As reports emerged that current and former intelligence commanders conducted a preemptive simulation of martial law at Lotte Restaurant before the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, Lotte Restaurant has become a topic of discussion online. Internet users are creating memes linking martial law and Lotte Restaurant, and requests for related products have continued. Lotte Restaurant stated that they are "perplexed" by the situation.
On the 18th, a Kakao Map review of a Lotte Restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, showed that over 100 reviews were registered since the related report came out the previous day. The restaurant was called "the famous martial law restaurant" and "the headquarters of the coup." Intentional one-star ratings were also given in what is referred to as "star terror" with users asking to "release a martial law simulation set."
Memes linking Lotte Restaurant and martial law are trending online. Internet users have reacted with comments such as "flavors so good they make it worth selling the country" and "to succeed in martial law, you should have gone to Burger King next door." Pictures generated by Chat GPT upon requests to create a burger containing four eggs have also quickly spread.
According to police investigations, former and current intelligence commanders Moon Sang-ho and Noh Sang-won met on the 1st at a Lotte Restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to discuss martial law. They are suspected of having ordered Colonel Kim and Colonel Jeong, who are affiliated with the intelligence agency, to "prepare as martial law would soon be declared" while eating hamburgers.
A Lotte Restaurant representative stated, "It's perplexing to be embroiled in a political issue. We were unaware that the current and former intelligence commanders visited the establishment, and this location is merely one of our franchises. There are no plans to release related products."